Ethel Mae Howard

September 23, 1937 - December 25, 2019

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Ethel Mae Howard, our loving mother on December 25, 2019. She left us while sleeping peacefully at her residence in Newberg, Oregon after a long battle with cancer. She was in her 82nd year. Born in Crawfordsville Indiana, September 23 1937, she went on to graduate as an R.N. in 1958 from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Indianapolis. She was by all accounts an excellent nurse until back surgery forced her into a different career path as a medical records professional at which she also excelled. Ethel was an avid reader, was highly skilled with knitting needles, crochet hooks, and sewing in general. She also enjoyed gardening. Her faith was very strong and very important in her life and it provided great comfort to her in her last days. She will be greatly missed by her friends and her family from her church. She is survived by her daughter Debra Gordon and her husband Kelly Gordon. Her sons, Michael Riggan and his wife Karen Riggan, John Riggan and his wife Chris Riggan, her six grandchildren and one great grandchild. She is also survived by her sisters Dorothy Stadler and her husband Ivan of Harrisonburg, Virginia and Fairy Chism of Crawfordsville, Indiana and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Ethel’s life will be held at Newberg Seventh-day Adventist Church, 530 E Edgewood Dr, Newberg, OR on Sunday, January 5th, 2020 beginning at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers or other kindly acts, please send donations to Providence Hospital Hospice or to the Newberg Seventh Day Adventist Church Fund.